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CALTRANS'
SAFETY PROGRAM

SAFETY
ALERT MEMO #06-01

DATE:
December 31, 2005

INCIDENT TYPE: Employee Injury, Vehicle Accident

LOCATION:
District 5

TYPE
OF WORK ACTIVITY: Traffic Control

THE
ACCIDENT: On Saturday night, December 31, 2005 at
approximately 10:15 P.M. a Caltrans Highway Maintenance
Worker was seriously injured and a CHP Lieutenant was
killed in a traffic collision on Highway 17 in the Santa
Cruz Mountains. The Caltrans employee had been dispatched
to assist the CHP with traffic control at the scene
of an earlier accident. He positioned his cone truck
out of the lane on the right shoulder and activated
his FAS. The Caltrans employee is believed to have walked
to the front of the truck to speak to the CHP officer.
A vehicle traveling southbound slid out of control and
struck the rear of the CT vehicle. The CHP Officer and
the driver of the errant vehicle were killed. The Caltrans
cone truck was pushed forward and struck the Caltrans
employee. He was knocked off his feet and into the number
2 lane of traffic and sustained injuries to his abdomen
and left knee. The employee was hospitalized following
the incident but has been released. The incident is
under investigation.

CONCLUSIONS:
This incident clearly illustrates the importance
of positioning your vehicles so as to provide the maximum
physical protection from upstream traffic. We must also
remember that when vehicles are struck at highway speeds
they will roll forward, even if the parking brakes have
been set.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
: Facing traffic is the most important thing workers
can do to protect themselves and their co-workers while
working on or near the traveled way. Facing traffic
gives workers a better opportunity to see and hear errant
vehicles. This allows them a chance to move out of the
way and warn fellow workers. Before a vehicle is parked,
consider if the vehicle will be needed to perform the
work. If not, the vehicle should be used for physical
protection from moving traffic. It should be carefully
positioned so that it will intercept errant vehicles,
but will not roll ahead into the work area. When parking
the vehicle, the front should be pointed away from traffic
and the wheels turned away from the work zone and traffic.
Whenever possible, a vehicle should be entered and exited
on the side away from traffic to reduce worker exposure.
If possible, do not stand or work near the back of parked
vehicles. Also, do not work directly in front of parked
vehicles. Leave a "buffer space" between yourself and
the vehicle in case the vehicle is hit and pushed forward.

HEADQUARTERS
OFFICE OF HEALTH AND SAFETY SERVICES
(916) 227-2640

For
individuals with disabilities, documents may be obtained
in alternative formats and other assistive services
are available. To obtain such services, please call
(916) 227-2640. TTY users may also call: 711 or 1-800-735-2929.